Atlantic 10 Conference Adds Davidson College as Full Member

Colonials and Wildcats to Battle in 14 A-10 Sports Beginning in 2014-15

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Atlantic 10 Conference Council of Presidents has unanimously voted to formally accept an application for membership from Davidson College the league announced on Wednesday. A prestigious private institution in Davidson, N.C., the Wildcats' athletic program sponsors 19 of the Atlantic 10's 21 championship sports.

STATEMENTS FROM THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND GW ATHLETICS

"All of us in the Atlantic 10 are delighted to add such an academically distinguished and athletically competitive institution to our conference."

- Dr. Steven Knapp, president of The George Washington University and chair of the Atlantic 10 Council of Presidents

"Once again the Atlantic 10 has shown its commitment to being a premier conference, and in the always changing landscape of conference realignment, the conference has proven to be proactive in adding quality universities that will augment our reputation and keep us thriving. Davidson has a nationally-known and well-respected program with student-athletes and alumni that are excelling in all walks of life. We welcome them to the A-10 and we look forward to competing against them in the future."

"Coach McKillop has made Davidson a perennial threat and contender for the NCAA Tournament, so the addition of Davidson to the Atlantic 10 makes this conference that much stronger. This is - and will always be - one of the best basketball conferences in the country and we're looking ahead to the challenge that conference play always provides."

"Under the guidance of Coach Savage, the Wildcats are coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons, which is a testament to the work of the Atlantic 10 in landing another up-and-coming program in women's basketball. Davidson's commitment to building and sustaining a women's basketball program that aspires to reach the NCAA Tournament every year speaks to the caliber that our conference attracts."

Davidson will join the A-10 on July 1, 2014 and begin competition in the 2014-15 academic year. Located just north of Charlotte within the Atlantic 10 footprint, the Wildcats have a tradition of excellence in intercollegiate athletics led by men's basketball, a successful women's basketball program and strong Olympic sports programs. Consistently ranked in the top 10 of the best Liberal Arts schools in the United States, Davidson's academic programs are among the best in the nation.

Davidson is the second addition to the Atlantic 10 Conference this spring, joining George Mason, which will enter the league this July. Like Mason, the Wildcats further strengthen the Atlantic 10 as the most successful basketball-centric conference in Division I. The league had nine members selected for postseason play in men's basketball in 2013, including five for the NCAA Tournament, the third most of any Division I conference. Davidson has made 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including five since 2002. The Wildcats, behind long-time coach Bob McKillop and All-American sharpshooter Stephen Curry, made a run to the 2008 Elite Eight.

Additionally, 10 Olympic sports in the A-10 have automatic qualifying (AQ) status for the NCAA Championships. The league has also earned six at-large Olympic-sport selections to the NCAAs in the last two years. Davidson has a history of success in Olympic sports, including a run to the men's soccer College Cup.

"Davidson is an ideal fit for the Atlantic 10 - as a nationally recognized academic Institution complimented by excellence in a broad-based athletic program -- the Wildcats will be competitive immediately. Their success in men's basketball is important, bringing another nationally recognized brand into the league," stated A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "It is my pleasure to welcome Davidson's administration, their student-athletes, staff, alumni and fans to the Atlantic 10 Conference. They will maintain our presence in the Charlotte market, one of the top 25 media markets in the country, and reinforce our commitment to national prominence in men's basketball."

A hallmark of the Atlantic 10 Conference is its academic reputation. The league ranks second among all Division I conferences in the most recent NCAA graduation rates (GSR) with an incredible 90 percent of student-athletes graduating. Davidson had 14 teams achieve perfect GSR rates last fall and nearly all of its teams achieved a 990 or better in the Academic Progress Rate (APR).

"Davidson is thrilled to join the Atlantic 10 Conference to compete alongside some of the most dynamic Division I student-athletes in the country," Davidson President Dr. Carol Quillen said. "Our athletic teams - from men's basketball to women's lacrosse, from men's swimming to women's tennis - are ready for this new opportunity and we have the greatest confidence they will succeed."

Athletically, the Atlantic 10 has had 50 at-large NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament selections in the past 25 years, including four this season. The A-10 has boasted 71 postseason appearances in the last decade. For the sixth year in a row, the Atlantic 10 Conference earned at least three bids and multiple at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament. The A-10 had 10 institutions rated in the top 100 of the RPI for most of the season.

One of the premier women's basketball leagues in the country, the Atlantic 10 has had two consecutive years of 50 percent of its membership participating in postseason play. Davidson just completed its second consecutive 22-win season in women's basketball, earning a postseason WNIT bid in each year.

"The Atlantic 10 is a conference that gives Davidson the opportunity to be associated with and compete against institutions with significant profiles, both academically and athletically, while we continue to establish our national brand. This is a great opportunity to use athletics to further the goals and objectives of the college as we enhance the experience of our students," said Jim Murphy, Davidson Director of Athletics.

The move will also allow Davidson to have a home for its swimming & diving, field hockey and women's lacrosse programs within the school's primary conference affiliation in the A-10. This affords the Wildcat programs the opportunity to grow the brand recognition for those sports and contributes to the overall success of the Davidson athletics.

One of just five conferences to have its men's basketball championship air on network television (CBS), the A-10 recently signed new, eight-year media rights agreements with ESPN, CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Network. Partnering with three of the largest media corporations nationally and internationally the A-10 aligns itself with the best in the business from distribution platforms and branding. The Atlantic 10 holds one of the most impressive media footprints in all of Division I, with eight A-10 schools located in the top 25 media markets in the country and every institution within the top 65 markets. The Atlantic 10 reaches approximately 35 million television homes. The league also recently completed the first year of a multi-year contract relationship for the A10 Men's Basketball Championship to be held in the Barclays Center, the newest- state of the art NBA arena in Brooklyn, N.Y.